8/10
The first highly anticipated movie of 2026 is here. Project Hail Mary, an adaptation of the 2021 Andy Weir novel of the same name, was released in theaters last week to resounding success. So far, the film has made around $300 million worldwide, becoming Amazon MGM Studios’ highest-grossing film of all time. It’s safe to say that Project Hail Mary lives up to the hype.
The film follows overqualified middle school science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) who used to be a scientist developing theories about alien life. When he wakes up alone on a spaceship, with no memory of who he is or how he got there, he panics. Slowly, Grace begins to piece together his past, discovering that he was forced onto the spaceship by the leader of the Hail Mary project, Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller), to save Earth from star-eating bacteria. While in space, Grace meets an alien facing the exact same issue, whom he affectionately—and accurately—nicknames Rocky (James Ortiz).
Project Hail Mary is a truly stunning film. Its engaging pacing, insane visuals, and emotional performances will cement the movie as a modern sci-fi classic.
First of all, Gosling is absolutely stellar. His ability to endlessly maintain his entertaining signature charm is very impressive, especially considering that for most of the movie’s run time, he’s acting with a puppet—Rocky. His leading performance makes it easy to get emotionally invested in a pretty outrageous plot.
Gosling also somehow manages to make his moments with Rocky feel incredibly human. Whenever Grace and Rocky are together, they radiate undeniable chemistry and cuteness, never seen between human and alien since Elliott and ET. As the pair works together to translate their languages and Grace shows Rocky digital pieces of Earth, the audience slowly falls in love. Watching two creatures that could not be more different slowly develop a true, soulful connection really does pull at the heartstrings.
And Gosling isn’t the only standout performer from Project Hail Mary. Hüller nails Stratt’s serious and stiff attitude, while adding just enough emotion to make her feel real. She’s also a great singer, and her karaoke performance of Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” is not only fitting but sure to be remembered for years to come.
The cinematography is another one of the film’s bright spots. The endlessness of space—along with vibrant colors—complement the plot nicely, enhancing the storyline and keeping the audience’s eyes glued to the screen. The views of space are spectacular and avoid the typical CGI slop that is unfortunately common in modern films. Rocky’s xenonite ship is breathtaking, with its spiky design and overall layered look. It looks completely alien. The exceptional use of shadows and a shifting light design further displays the emotion and emphasizes the scientific aspects. This is definitely the kind of movie to watch at the theater.
Project Hail Mary also isn’t told chronologically, instead bouncing back and forth in time. Starting before Grace’s time in space, we flash back to his time as a teacher and his successful science experiments, showing us the story that led to Grace’s placement on the Hail Mary. The flashbacks from the past to the present are well-executed. Not only are they clear and understandable, but they create a level of suspense: you’re not just curious to see if Grace can save the world, you’re curious about what put him in a world-saving position in the first place.
Weir’s novel has also cemented itself as classic sci-fi media, and the screenplay does it justice, even though it doesn’t cover everything. In the book, Weir reflects the complex science of space exploration in a digestible way. The movie lacks much of this scientific complexity in favor of humor, but maybe that’s for the best. However, describing the biology of aliens and the physical makeup of Astrophage might be too much on the big screen, taking away from the book’s more impactful emotional core.
However, the background story ends up feeling incomplete. Why does a middle school science teacher end up on a suicide mission in space? An explosion that takes the lives of several crew members is breezed over as if it isn’t instrumental to the plot. Not only is the background undeveloped, it is slightly boring, especially compared to the high-stakes space adventure that Grace is experiencing in the present.
Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the directing duo behind the film, have also pioneered numerous animated classics, including The Lego Movie and Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs. The playful style that dominated these kids’ movies certainly shines through in Project Hail Mary. Humor is a core part of the film, turning what could easily be a tragedy into a hopeful story about connection and perseverance. Still, the constant jokes can feel slightly suffocating, leaving the audience rolling their eyes instead of laughing, and the unserious tone does feel a little confusing in the movie’s most harrowing moments.
Despite these small drawbacks, Project Hail Mary is undeniably fabulous. And a fabulous movie isn’t complete without a fabulous ending. The continuation of Grace and Rocky’s friendship, with Grace deciding to become a teacher on Rocky’s planet, is exactly what the viewers wanted. It is heartfelt and powerful, and perfectly ties up all the strings. On the other end of the universe, Stratt receives videos of Grace’s journey and new life, and (spoiler alert!) our world and Rocky’s are saved. What a relief!
Project Hail Mary is a perfect sci-fi blockbuster. The film’s mix of humor, science, and heartwarming friendship is out of this world—and with Gosling at the helm, it will undoubtedly continue to soar.
